At SERF, we hold with the maxim that the greenest building is the one that is already built.

Except when we don’t.

It is generally the case that the reuse of an existing structure is a more sustainable route, even measured over a long time period, than demolition, disposal and construction of a new building, even one chalk full of energy-saving bells and whistles.

But as new systems—many of which are cost-prohibitive to install in existing buildings– lead to ever greater efficiencies, we see that maxims are not rules.The path to determining the sustainable benefit of building new versus reuse lies in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

SERF Foundation’s Director of Research Stan Samuel has co-authored a white paper on Life Cycle Analysis and its potential to aid green building rating systems compare reuse versus new construction

Messrs. Metz and Lott were early, and proud, adopters of LEED certified designation for professionals who have wearied of the additional fees and re-certification required of their practices, which they see as little more than a new USGBC profit center.

Moreover, a sense of fairness is at play. When they were accredited, the implied bargain was that the credential would last for life. The revised rules, and their accompanying fees, unfairly change the terms of the relationship. While Lott3Metz remains firmly committed to sustainable design, they are fed up with USGBC’s demand for ongoing tribute.

So instead of bellying up to the cashier window, Greg Metz would like to see, “…what is the next thing? What’s the next LEED that everybody is going to want to have?” Well Greg, the next thing is here. It’s credible, it’s affordable, and it’s SERF.

It seems lawmakers in North Carolina are seeing red over “green” LEED standards for wood.

Since most timber grown in the state does not meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards that LEED requires, builders there are perversely incented to use imported wood in order to obtain LEED certification.

The North Carolina House of Representatives is responding with HB 688 which would prohibit public projects from pursuing a green building certification which, “disadvantages materials of products manufactured or produced in North Carolina.”

SERF believes in local sourcing and holistic, life-cycle analysis (imported wood?) So, to our friends in the Tar Heel state, we encourage you to support your local economy andthe environment by growing your own.

Gosh, we sure hope not. We’ve been a little quiet lately as we launched our completely redesigned and enhanced web site this week (www.SERFgreen.org), but the notion of a LEED monopoly is unsettling. After all, SERF, Green Globes ™ and others have invested significant resources to provide cost-effective, accessible alternative green building certifications.

The Times Free Press’ position has some merit when considering government buildings. But as to the private sector—the ones who are spending their own money–we find businesses are very open to a market-friendly alternative to LEED. In fact, we’ve had success with private buildings that are already LEED certified.

CSE , a global leader in sustainability consulting and training, is partnering with SERF to train SERF Professionals (SPs). SPs have the exclusive ability to act as third-party verifiers for SERF certification applications.

SERF president Joe Maguire and CSE president Nikos Avlonas will be on hand to discuss SERF as a streamlined, affordable alternative to LEED certification and the SP designation as opportunity to expand your professional practice. Click here to register.

As more and more properties Catch the Wave with SERF Certification, we’re beginning to fall behind in processing applications. Maintaining our early decision to cede the lengthy process award to the other 4-letter certification, we are, instead, embarking on a fix.

Our new professional designation SERF Professional (SP) will enable real estate professionals to act as third party verifiers for SERF Certification applications. SPs will be independent from SERF and will set their own fees and contract directly with certification applicants.

Restoration often includes deep energy retrofits which generally increase the thermal resistance (R-value) of the envelope. For existing structures adding insulation to the exterior is generally preferred over the interior as adding insulation from the inside will reduce its floor area. But for historic structures this approach is self-defeating.

Vacuum insulation has been used widely in non-building applications like refrigerators, thermos containers, and thermal doors. Its use in building envelope insulation is fairly new and still in R&D. Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIPs) are composed of two stainless steel plates which sandwich a core of vacuum and fumed silica.

Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh paint? But, as so often seems the case, the good things in life are bad for us.

Green buildings transcend their structure and actually produce a positive effect on the health and comfort of their occupants. A key factor which determines this is the type of architectural coatings (paints, sealers etc.) and how many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they contain. Alas, these toxins are responsible for that wonderful fresh paint aroma.

Obtaining LEED certification costs a lot of time and money. The resources required are not limitless and are generally diverted from other uses, though that seems impolite to discuss when pursuing sustainability.

But LEED certification does not, of course, add to a property’s sustainability. Rather it confirms, or certifies, that objective sustainable criteria have been met. If anything, the high costs of LEED certification divert funds that may be otherwise be spent on sustainable materials or systems.

In the end, the high cost of LEED ultimately comes from somewhere….or someone.

National Real Estate Investor opines that the study, commissioned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Green Lab, empirically shows, “It is unequivocally greener to retrofit an old building than construct a new building, no matter how many high-tech bells and whistles are in the new construction.”